“You shut me out. All I see is a brick wall. Lots and lots of bricks.”
Good, it was working.
“What happened?”He ignored the buzz again, and I held up my phone.“I want details. I said I’d help.”
“You’re so beautiful. I miss how you smell, like lemons and vanilla. Good enough to eat. And you’re so smart. I can’t do this without you.”
He ran his hands through his wavy hair. He needed a haircut. Jamming his hands into his pockets, maybe to keep them to himself, he rocked back and forth on his heels. With his tie loosened and his shirt untucked, he was the picture of debauchery—and nearly irresistible.
His words chipped pieces of my icy heart, but most of all, I wanted to smooth down his hair where it stood on end.“So, Brandon is in the coma, then?”
He didn’t answer and shoved his phone in his back pocket. End of discussion.
I gritted my teeth and looked at the night sky, wishing I had answers.
We waited on the empty sidewalk in front of the building—the other partygoers long gone. We had a problem. I couldn’t leave him this way and I couldn’t call him a cab. He couldn’t walk home in this condition. His place was farther than mine. He wouldn’t look at his phone, so I couldn’t discuss it with him and my Uber would be here soon.
I didn’t enjoy riding with strangers, but the feelings of distrust Eric had awakened meant I’d made an exception. This would be better. I wouldn’t be alone. They could drop me at home, then the car could carry on to Christopher’s. If he was serious that he wanted my help, we could meet on the weekend.
“We’re going home tonight. Separate homes. Come over tomorrow. Tell me what happened then.”He didn’t so much as glance at his phone, but he would see my message in the morning. Or would he be too hung-over to call?
I kept watch, but for once I was outside and hadn’t felt Eric’s eyes. Christopher babbled while we waited, but I didn’t pay attention. I updated the car request to have two stops. When the compact car arrived, I needed assistance to load Christopher into the back. When he started talking about driving again and turned toward the building, I jingled his keys like bait, reminding him I had them. I was lucky that the Uber driver was tough and wiry. He shoved my tall friend into the back.
“It’s always the big ones that drink too much.” The driver looked in the rear-view mirror as he spoke. “You little ones take it easy. You’re smart.”
I smiled. He had kind eyes.
Christopher sprawled, taking up most of the backseat, and sat too close to me—practically on my lap—but it would be a brief ride. I returned his keys once the car was moving. He rested his hand on my bare leg and it burned. I looked away and bit my lip.
Outside my place, I nodded my thanks and paid in advance for the second stop.
Christopher leaned out the window, his arm resting on the frame. “She doesn’t talk,” he said to the driver. “She’s a time traveler from the future and speaks a different language than us mere mortals.”
The driver laughed. “That’s a new one. Time travel.”
Before the Uber left, Christopher flung open his door and stumbled out. He followed me up the stairs, hauling himself upward with the handrail.
“Lizzie, I have to talk to you.”
“He’s all yours, lady.” The driver got out to close Christopher’s door. “I don’t think he wants to go home.”
Despite his words, the man waited.
“Thanks for the ride.” Christopher waved with big, exaggerated movements.
At the top of the stairs, he rested his hand on my lower back while I searched for my house key. It branded me with its heat. Electricity zinged through me.
The driver said, “You want me to come get him?”
I shook my head.
“The mean lady stole my keys and won’t let me drive.”
Christopher gathered my hair away from my neck and pulled it over my left shoulder, leaving the other bare. One finger traced a line from one shoulder to the other. I ignored his touch, though it shot through me everywhere.
“I’m not mean. I’m smart. You’re in no shape to drive.”
He ignored his phone. I wanted to strangle him. Was he doing this, so I’d lower my wall?
